Early start next year in South Bend schools

Union president says ISTEP is at core of switch.

Union president says ISTEP is at core of switch.

June 16, 2006|MICHAEL WANBAUGH Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- For years the South Bend Community School Corp. has had the latest start date in Indiana. That is no longer the case. After typically starting the school year during the final days of August, the 2006-07 school year will begin on Aug. 15 with a full day of class. Most schools in the state will start the next week. Although it might not be a popular move for parents, the new start date is the result of the contract agreement in 2005 between the corporation and the National Education Association-South Bend, the teachers union with contract bargaining authority. In this era of high-stakes testing, many educators feel an early start is essential in preparing students for September's ISTEP exams. "With ISTEP testing (the late start date) put us at a disadvantage," said Carolyn Peterson, president of NEA-South Bend and a math teacher at Washington High School. "This puts us in a more comparable status throughout the state in terms of preparing for ISTEP." South Bend students will now complete their first semester before the holiday break and be excused for summer vacation before Memorial Day weekend. They also will be starting school in the middle of one of the hottest months of the year, some parents point out. Cathy Scholz has two children in South Bend schools and two more toddlers on the way. She prefers the later start date. "The first thing I thought when I found out is that we wouldn't be able to take our vacation in August," Scholz said. "My kids are completely upset because of this. That is huge swimming time for them. "August is major outdoor weather they're going to miss out on. It just seems ridiculous to me." Scholz said kids need to be outside, enjoying their summer during the middle of August, not in a classroom. She also wonders why parents didn't have a say in the switch. Parents were informed of the start date change with a letter from schools back in May. The start date of school is commonly a bargaining point between teacher unions and school corporations. Peterson said teachers voted on three different calendar proposals while the current contract was being negotiated in 2005. The first was what was ultimately approved. The second was to start later that week. The third was to start the following week on Aug. 22. "What we didn't want to do is presume we had the foresight to make a decision for the majority of the teachers," Peterson said. "So, we took it out to a vote. "We hope it will have a positive impact on getting the students ready for ISTEP." The majority of teachers who voted opted for the Aug. 15 start date, Peterson said. The matter will come up again next year when the teachers contract will be re-negotiated.Staff writer Michael Wanbaugh: mwanbaugh@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6176